Apparatus for feeding spangles to spangling machines



APPARATUS FOR FEEDIfiG SPANGLES To' SPANGLING MACHINES C. WEISS May 21,1946,

Filed Nov. 23, 1944 cam. .BY (C7 ATTORNEY Patented May 21, 1946 UNITEDSTATES PATENT orFlcE APPARATUS FOR FEEDING SPAN GLES TO SPANGLINGMACHINES Charles Weiss, Corona, Long Island, Y., as-

signor to Joseph Brandt & Bro. Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation ofNew York Application November 23, 1944, Serial No. 564,747

10 Claims.

the objects of the present invention is to re.

duce to a considerable extentqthe amount of floor space required forfeeding the spangles and the companion thread or string tov thespangling machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a thread and spanglefeeding apparatus with means for positively advancing the thread and thespangles in the course of the travel of the thread and spangles from thesupply spool to the spangling machine.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the inventionwill be fully understood from the following description, reference beinghad to the accompanying illustrative drawing. 4

In the drawing: V

Fig. 1 is a side view of the spangle and thread feeding apparatusembodying the, present'invention, said feeding apparatus being shown inassociation with a spangling machine illustrated more or lessdiagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of part of the feeding apparatus of thepresent invention;

Fig. 3 is a view, on a larger scale, of part of the apparatus on theline 33 of Fig. 1; i

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the lower part of, the lower support. I v

As illustrated in the drawing, the spanglefeeding apparatus supplies thespangles l and the string l2, which is threaded through said spangles,from a spool M to a spangling machine IG, said supply spool beingmounted in elevated position in respect to the intake of the spanglingmachine. It will be understood that string l2 carrying a multiplicity ofthe spangles l0 through which said string is threaded and on which saidspangles move ,while being fed to the spangling machine 'is unwound fromspool [4 while the thread and spangles travel to the spangling machine,said spool being [provided with a suitable friction brake (not shown) toprovide for the tensioning of the string while it is being unwound.

The feeding apparatus of the present invention comprises means forsupporting the spangles ID for movement toward the spangling machine.Said supporting means comprises a lower downwardly inclined support inthe form of a trough or ramp l8 and an upper downwardly inclined supportin the form of a trough. or ramp 29 which is positioned above trough l8.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, trough i3 is inclined downwardly toward thespangling machine while upper trough 20, positioned above trough l8, isinclined downwardly toward the upper partof lower trough it! from apoint above the lower part of trough I18; Trough l8 comprises a bottom22 and opposite side walls 24, and similarly trough 25 comprises abottom 26 and opposite side walls 28; The lower downwardly inclinedtrough.v i8 ,is supported in any suitable way as by-vertical supports 3tand 32, and the upper downwardly inclined trough-2i! is supported byside members-34 and 35 secured to the opposite side-Walls of troughs l8and 20. The spool id is mounted for rotation at the upper ends ofvertical members 38 secured to said walls 28 of,

trough 20 at, the upper end of the latter.

It will be understood thatas the string 12 and the spangles 10 travel tothe spangling machine they move downwardly from supply spool M to thelower end of trough 20 in a direction away from the spangling machineand then in the opposite direction down trough it toward the spanglingmachine. The means for reversing the. direction of movement of string 12and spangles It! comprises a driven roller 4i) positioned at the lowerend of upper trough 26.

More; specifically, as here shown, said driven roller 40 is fixed to ashaft 42 which is journalled for rotation in bracket arms, secured totrough 20 at the lowerend thereof. A pulley 46 is fixed to shaft 42 andis driven bya belt 48 whichin turn isdriven by a pulley 50 which isfixed to the driven shaft 52 which operates the roller Ed at the lowerend of trough I8. Said shaft 52 is driven by a pulley 53 operated by abelt 55 driven at the proper speed by a part of the spangling machine asdescribed in said' Brandt patent. Belt 48, which drives pulley 46 forrotating roller 4B, is crossed 'so that the roller 40 at the lower endvof upper trough 21] rotates in a counterclockwise direction while roller54 at the lower part of trough IBrotates in a clockwise direc tion(viewing Fig. 1). Thus, rollers 4!! and 54 are driven in unison by belts48 and 55 to advance'the spangles toward the spangling machine. Roller56 is driven by a pulley 51 operated by belt 59 driven by pulley E! onshaft 52.

From roller 54 the string I2 and the spangles iii 55 pass to and areengaged by the driven roller 55.

0 here shown, is the same as that illustrated 'in Fig. 3 of the abovementioned Brandt patent. It will be understood, however, that it iswithin the scope of the present invention to utilize means other thanthat herein specifically illustra-ted for periodically releasing thespangles forv movement from the feeding apparatus to the guidechute 62of the spangling machine.

It will be understood that as the span'gles' lil' 1 move downwardly onstring lZ. from -spool l4,

said spangles are supported on. the bottom of trough and move downwardlyon said trough 7 bottom. Likewisasaid spangles are supported by thebottom 22 of lower trough I8 while they move downwardly on said trough.As the spangles move downwardly on said troughs, they are retarded bythe frictional engagement of said spangles with the trough bottoms andthat the string; l2 drawn from spool I 4, while being fed into thespangling machine, moves in'-rela-.-

span gles and relieves string l2 7 from harmful tension so that saidstring is notrequired tomove the spangles around roller 40. Itwillbe-undeb. stood further that by reason of the construction andarrangement of the feeding apparatus of the present inyer itionftherequired floor space is considerably reduced as compared with the floorspace required for the feeding apparatus illustrated in theabovementioned patent to Brandt, while on the other hand, the advantagesof the feeding apparatu shown in said patent are retained in thefeeding. apparatus of the present invention. Further, it will beunderstood that the apparatus shown in the accompanying drawing at thelower end of'trough I8, beginning with roller 54 and including all ofthe parts of the apparatus at th right thereof, including spanglingmachine, .are' all as illustrated and described in said Brandt patent,except that roller'shaft 52, which corresponds to the shaft of roller 60of the apparatus illustrated in the Brandt patent, is provided with apulley 50 for driving belt 48. Thus, it is seen that the apparatusillustrated in the Brandt patent can b readily adapted, pursuant to thepresent invention, to embody the principles and advantages of thepresent invention. v e 7 While I have shown and described the presentlychine, said spangles being carried by said thread and movable therewithand longitudinally thereof' during the feeding operation, an upper rampinclined downwardly in a direction away from the sp'angling machine; alower ramp inclined downwardly toward said machine, said upper[preferred embodiment of my invention in the ramp having its lower endpositionedabove and spaced longitudinally'from the lower end of thelower ramp, means on'saicl upper ramp spaced from the lower end thereoffor supportingaa spool of said spangle-carrying thread, said threadbeing movable at uniform speed downwardly on said upper ramp, asthespool is unwound, to said lower 'end' of the upper ramp and thendownwardly at the same uniform speed on said lower ramp, and means atthe lower end of said upper ramp for directing the thread and thespangles carried thereby from said upper ramp to said lower ramp. 1

2. In apparatus for feeding a thread and spangles mounted thereon to aspangling machine, said span'gles being carried by said thread and'movable therewith and longitudinally thereof during the feedingoperation, an upper ramp inclined downwardly in adirection' away fromthe spangling machine,- a lower ramp inclined downwardly toward saidmachine, said upper ramp having its lower end positioned abovean'dspaced longitudinally from the lower end of the lower ramp, means onsaid upper 'ra'mp' spaced from the lower endjthereof for supp'ortingaspool of said spangle-carrying thread, said thread being movable atuniform speed downwardly on said upper rampjas the'spool'is unwound,*tosaidlower end-of the upper ramp and then down wardly at the sameunifornrspeed on said lower ramp, and a driven roller for directing andmov ingthe thread and the spangles carried thereby from said upper rampto 'saidlower ramp' for movement downwardly of said lower ramp towardthe spangling machine.

3; In apparatus for. feeding a'th'read and spangles' mounted thereon toa spangl-i'ngmachine, said spangle being carried by said thread andmovable therewith and longitudinallythereof during the feeding operationan upp er ramp 7 inclined downwardly in a direction awayifrom thespangling machine, a lower ramp inclined downwardly toward said machine,said upper ramp having its lower end positioned above and spacedlongitudinally from'thelower end offlthe lower ramp, means on" saidupper ramp fspaced from the lower end thereof for supporting a spool ofsaid spangle jcarrying thread, said threadbeing movable at uniform speeddownwardly on said, upper ramp, as the spool i unwound, to said lowerend of the upper ramp and then downwardly on said lower ramp, a drivenroller for directing the thread and the spangles carried thereby fromsaidupper rarnpto' said lower ramp for movement at the sameuniformgspeed downwardly of said lower ramp towardthe s'panglingmachine,,a driven roller at the lower, part of said lower ramp foradvancing thethread and spangles toward the spanglingmachinaand meansfor driving said rollers in unison. l 4. In apparatus for feeding athread. and spangles mounted thereon to a spangling machine, saidspangles being carried by said thread and movable therewith andlongitudinally there of a during the. feeding operatiornfan upper ramp'inclined downwardlyin a'direction away from the spangling machine, alower rampjinclin'ed downwardly toward said, machine, said-upper ramphaving its lower-endpositioned above'and spaced longitudinallyfromthelower endof the lower ramp, means on said upper-ramp spaced from thelower end thereof for supportingiaspool of said spangle-carrying,thread, 'said thread being-movable at uniform speeddownwardly on saidupper ramp, a the spool is unwound, to said lower end of the upper rampand then downwardly at the same uniform speed on said lower ramp, andpower driven rollers spaced from each other longitudinally of thedirection of feed of the spangles and thread down the lower ramp toadvance said spangles toward the spangling machine.

5. In apparatus for feeding a thread and spangles mounted thereon to aspangling machine, said spangles being carried by said thread andmovable therewith and longitudinally thereof during the feedingoperation, a plurality of inclined supports positioned one above theother, a lower one of said supports being inclined downwardly toward thespangling machine and an upper one of said inclined supports beinginclined downwardly toward the upper part of said lower one of thesupports and in a direction away from the spangling machine, meansprovided in the apparatus for supporting a spool of thespangle-carryingstring for the unwinding thereof while the string andspangles move downwardly on said supports, and power operated means fordirecting the string and spangles from the lower part of the uppersupport to the upper part of the lower support for movement down saidlower support, said thread being moved at uniform speed longitudinallyof said supports.

6. In apparatus for feeding a thread and spangles mounted thereon to aspangling machine, said spangles being carried by said thread andmovable therewith and longitudinally thereof during the feedingoperation, a plurality of inclined supports positioned one above theother, a lower one of said supports being inclined downwardly toward thespangling machine and an upper one of said inclined supports beinginclined downwardly toward the upper part of said lower one of thesupports and in a direction away from the spangling machine, meansprovided in the apparatus for supporting a spool of the spangle-carryingstring for the unwinding thereof while the string and spangles movedownwardly on said supports, and a power driven roller for directing thethread and the spangles carried thereby from said upper support to saidlower support for movement downwardly of said lower support toward thespangling machine, said thread being moved at uniform speedlongitudinally of said supports.

'7. In apparatus for feeding a thread and spangles mounted thereon to aspangling machine, said spangles being carried by said thread andmovable therewith and longitudinally thereof during the feedingoperation, a plurality of inclined supports positioned one above theother, a lower one of said supports being inclined downwardly toward thespangling machine and an upper one of said inclined supports beinginclined downwardly toward the upper part of said lower one of thesupports and in a direction away from the spangling machine, meansprovided in the apparatus for supporting a spool of the spangle-carryingstring for the unwinding thereof while the string and spangles movedownwardly on said supports, a power driven roller for moving anddirecting the thread and the spangles carried thereby from said uppersupport to said lower support for movement downwardly of said lowersupport toward the spangling machine, a

power driven roller at the lower part of said lower support foradvancing the thread and spangles toward the spangling machine, andmeans for driving said rollers in unison, said thread being moved atuniform speed longitudinally of said supports.

8. Apparatus for feeding a thread and spangles mounted thereon to aspangling machine, said spangles being carried by said thread andmovable therewith and longitudinally thereof during the feedingoperation, said apparatus comprising a plurality of inclined supportspositioned one above the other, a lower one of said supports beinginclined downwardly toward the spangling machine and an upper one ofsaid inclined supports being inclined downwardly toward the upper partof said lower one of the supports and in a direction away from thespangling machine, means provided in the apparatus for supporting aspool of the spangle-carrying string for the unwinding thereof while thestring and spangles move downwardly on said supports, and power operatedmeans spaced from each other longitudinally of the direction of feed ofthe spangles and thread down the lower support'to advance said spanglestoward the sp-angling machine, said thread being moved at uniform speedlongitudinally of said supports.

9. Apparatus for feeding a thread and spangles mounted thereon to aspangling machine, said spangles being carried by said thread and movable therewith and longitudinally thereof during the feeding operation,said apparatus comprising a first longitudinally extending supportinclined downwardly toward the spangling machine, a secondlongitudinally extending support positioned at a higher level than saidfirst support and inclined downwardly in a different direction, meansprovided in the apparatus for supporting a spool of the spangle-carryingstring for the unwinding thereof while the string and spangles movedownwardly on said supports, and power operated means for directing andmoving the string and spangles from the lower part of the upper supportto the upper part of the lower support for movement down said lowersupport, said thread being moved at uniform speed longitudinally of saidsupports.

10. Apparatus for feeding a thread and spangles mounted thereon to aspangling machine, said spangles being carried by said thread andmovable therewith and longitudinally thereof during the feedingoperation, said means comprising a first longitudinally extendingsupport in clined downwardly toward the spangling machine, a secondlongitudinally extending support positioned at a higher level than saidfirst support and inclined downwardly in a different direction, meansprovided in the apparatus for supporting a spool of the spangle-carryingstring for the unwinding thereof while the string and spangles movedownwardly on said supports, and a driven roller for directing andmoving the thread and the spangles carried thereby from said uppersupport to said lower support for movement downwardly of said lowersupport toward the spangling machine, said thread being moved at uniformspeed longitudinally of said supports.

CHARLES WEISS,

